Female Reproductive System

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

Female reproductive system definition

The female reproductive system contains both organs inside the body and
external structures on the body. Its function is to enable reproduction of the
species, so it is involved in sexual maturation as well as the actual process of
pregnancy and birth.

Internal reproductive organs

The uterus, or womb, is a hollow organ located centrally in the pelvis. It
houses the developing fetus during pregnancy. The lower portion of the uterus is
called the cervix and opens into the vagina, or birth canal. An opening in the
cervix allows for the passage of sperm into the uterus and the exit of menstrual
blood from the uterine lining. This same opening dilates during labor to allow
passage of the baby through the birth canal. Arising from the upper portion of
the uterus on each side are the Fallopian tubes. These are channels that allow
eggs from the ovaries to enter the uterus. The process of fertilization of an
egg by a sperm cell typically happens in the Fallopian tubes, and the fertilized
egg moves into the uterus where it is implanted. Beside the uterus on each side
and near the opening of the Fallopian tubes are the small, oval ovaries, the
female sex organs. They produce hormones and contain eggs. At birth, a female
has 1 to 2 million eggs already present in the ovaries, but only about 300 of them
will mature during a woman's lifetime.